56 June 21, 2020 N N June 21, 2020 57 SPORTS WORLD THE STORY OF HOW AN ARISTOCRAT ACHIEVED IRELAND’S BEST EVER WINTER OLYMPIC FINISH SPORTS WORLD Peerless Lord

CHAMP: Katie Taylor Taylor’s COOL AS YOU LIKE: Lord Wrottesley August in full flow in Salt Lake City in 2002 ON THE CREST’: Lord Clifton Wrottesley return who sleighed takes to the slopes BY SEAN McGOLDRICK WORLD champion Katie Taylor looks odds-on to return to the ring in August. Her long-anticipated To be honest, I mega-fight against seven-weight world don’t remember champion Amanda Serrano, which had been provisionally thinking I might rescheduled for August 15 in the back garden be able to win a of promoter Eddie Hearn’s Essex estate, his demons fell through. medal. I was in such Serrano’s manager and trainer Jordan a state of shock... Maldonado, who is married to Serrano’s sister Cindy, announced BEWARE OF THE UNDERDOG: PART THREE It was a position in a statement that the fight wouldn’t take IN this series the Sunday World recalls some of the celebrated place because her moments in sport when the underdog prevailed against the I never vaguely THREE TOO GOOD: Jim Shea of the USA purse had been halved. odds. Today we recall how an Irish aristocrat Lord Clifton, 14th celebrates his 2002 Olympic skeleton gold Even when the Baronet, 6th Baron Wrottesley came within touching distance of dreamt I’d be in. in Salt Lake City with silver medallist Martin original fight contracts winning Ireland’s first ever medal at the Winter Olympics in 2002. Rettl and bronze medallist Gregor Staehli were signed there were LORD CLIFTON HUGH LANCELOT persistent doubt over DE VERDON WROTTESLEY whether the Brooklyn- based, Puerto Rican- FOR an hour it was the greatest feel-good born fighter would step story in the history of the Winter Olympics. into the ring against ON A PILGRIMAGE TO LEARN ABOUT HIS LATE FATHER, Taylor. Ireland’s Lord Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdon So, it’s not surprising Wrottesley was in the bronze medal position in that the Taylor camp the skeleton at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. had a replacement There was a problem though – this was never part CLIFTON WROTTESLEY FOUND OLYMPIC FAME INSTEAD lined up. of the plan. What started out as a spiritual pilgrimage to learn about Options a father he never knew had taken an unexpected turn, wasn’t cut out to known as his ‘crash-test dummy’. ity, banking up to 60 runs on the thinking I might be able to win a Taylor could fight at leaving Wrottesley utterly unprepared for the next part be in a bobsleigh. Nash even sported the yellow and Olympic skeleton course in Salt Lake medal. I was in such a state of shock super-lightweight and of the challenge. I went to the easiest black coloured, four-quadrant circle City. “I got as many rides as I wanted, that I put that thought completely avoid putting her four Heroic failure is a recurring Winter Olympics theme, WORLD CLASS: track in the world and turned – the official symbol of crash dum- because nobody thought I would aside. world lightweight belts providing the back story for inspirational movies like Clifton Wrottesley in over three times in a row, admitted- mies – on his helmet. make it into the Games,” he said. “It was a position I never vaguely on the line. ‘Cool Runnings’ and ‘Eddie the Eagle.’ ly on a difficult corner.” Fate intervened in 1999 when the Being a natural deal maker helped But if she stays in the But the story of how an Irish aristocrat achieved action for Ireland dreamt I’d be in. It’s a shame because during the Skeleton His co-passenger James Nash, International Olympic Committee him as well. if I had prepared for it I might have 135lbs category she Ireland’s best ever result at the Winter Olympics is far whose father Tony had won an Olym- (IOC) added the skeleton, which is may face one of three World Cup at Utah He mounted a camera on his hel- been able to keep it together for the more authentic. pic gold medal for the UK in Inns- essentially a version of the Cresta met and recorded one of his runs fighters. Clifton Wrottesley was born in Dublin on August 10, 1968. Olympic Park in 2001 second run.” bruck in 1964, became affectionately Run, to the programme for the 2002 down the Olympic course. He made Apart from being psychologically Unbeaten British His father Richard was a swashbuckling former British Winter Games. fighter Chantelle dozens of copies of the tape and trad- unprepared, Wrottesley always had paratrooper turned pig farmer, who lived with his young Even though the then performance Cameron has ed them with competitors in return problems doing fast runs back to back, wife Georgina Anne Clifton in Newtown House, a large director of the British skeleton for coaching tips. repeatedly called out stately home and farm near Abbeyknockmoy in Co Galway. Simon Timson helped organise the possibly because he had never perfected Taylor; another option Wrottesley’s father-in-law Urs his starting technique where most time Everything changed, however, on strength-and-conditioning pro- Schwarzenbach, a Swiss billionaire is Jelena Janicijevic November 9, 1970 when Richard, It was the start of a lifelong love gramme for Wrottesley, it quickly financier, lent him his physiothera- could be made up. from Serbia, while the then aged 28, was killed. He crashed affair with that famous stretch of became apparent that the British slid- pist for the season. A couple of errors on the run com- Bray fighter’s former his Jaguar E-type into Ballinamore ice. Wrottesley (inset below) is now ers weren’t interested in having him. “I used him as currency as well. pounded the issue, and he went rival from her amateur Bridge, about 24 miles from his the most successful ever competi- “They had been on the circuit for I’d let him treat other competitors in from being third to ninth fastest. career Estelle Mossely home. He didn’t leave a will. tor in the Cresta Run, winning the six to eight years and they were return for their track notes.” He missed the bronze medal by 0.42 is another possibility. “We had to move somewhere where SEAN McGOLDRICK blue-riband Grand National event a damned if they were going to accept seconds. Meanwhile, a public the cost of living was cheaper. My record 15 times. me.” Radar “Finishing fourth was absolutely spat has erupted mother chose Fuengirola, a Spanish “After leaving the Army I wasn’t So Wrottesley set about putting the right result. The three guys who between the Serrano seaside resort. We lived in an apart- sure what I wanted to do next, so I together his own team – on the cheap. By the time the final practice ses- have been most helpful to me on the camp and Lou DiBella ment in a block of flats and my first Too Far’ – died. Clifton inherited the politics and sociology. He followed The shadow of the father cast a long decided to take three months off and Needing a team-mate he recruited sion for the skeleton event concluded circuit were Jimmy Shea, Martin who negotiated the language became Spanish.” family peerage – including the right his father and grandfather into the shadow on his life. He wanted to find went to work in St Moritz Toboggan- Canadian Tim Hassan, who was based Wrottesley was more than a curiosity Rettl and Gregor Staehli and they deal with Matchroom His grandmother, however, to sit in the House of Lords. This British Army, joining the Grenadier out more about him. ing Club. in Calgary, which was hosting the figure after finishing seventh and won the medals. for the Taylor-Serrano Guards Regiment after graduating became increasingly irri- right was later removed by “What I did know about him came World Championship in 2001. 11th on his two runs. “Suddenly I was “They were my mates and I would showdown. from Sandhurst. on the radar of the other nations.” tated about him speak- British Prime Minister through rose-tinted spectacles because Prank He spend a month there in late 2000 have felt terrible had I had nicked In a series of ing to her in a Spanish Tony Blair. Infamously, his father had failed it was from my grandmother who told learning the track which proved The kickback was immediate and tweets DiBella flatly accent. She was ada- to make it into the regiment. He brutal. Later that night the Amer- a medal away from any of them as More significantly, his me these wonderful stories, whereas my “I did all the jobs that nobody an invaluable learning experience they had spent years on the circuit. contradicted the mant that Clifton be grandfather – who he was expelled from military college for the World Championships the icans lodged an objection to the suggestion that mum never really talked about him. else wanted to do,” he recalls. He “It p***** off the Brits because I educated in England. had only met once – left after being caught scaling the wall even fell for an initiation prank. “I following year where he finished a custom-built helmet he was wearing. Serrano’s purse was “One way of getting to know my beat them and it p***** off some of So he returned to a trust fund for his ed- of a nearby girl’s secondary school father better was to go and visit the spent a whole day polishing a brass credible 21st. It was a spurious complaint. going to be cut by 50 live with his grand- ucation. Together with late at night. handrail.” “I knew if I could replicate that The organisers cleared him to the other nations who thought they per cent if the fight places he had been to – and I knew St were going to get into the mix, but parents and enrolled another trust fund, pro- But being on site gave him an result the following season I would compete, though the experience went ahead. Adventurer Moritz was close to his heart.” it kept those good friends of mine in the local primary vided by his Irish-born On his trips to the Swiss ski resort opportunity to do the Cresta Run qualify for the Games, so I suddenly unnerved him. And then last night school. maternal grandmother, His companion on that illegal night- more frequently, and ended up slid- thought I better start taking this a Nonetheless, the next day he hur- happy. there were reports from where his father used to compete in “Looking back at all the details, When he was seven it enabled his mother to time sortie was future adventurer the Cresta Run – a thrilling head-first ing down it more than 150 times bit more seriously.” tled down the equivalent of 50 floors the US that instead of his paternal grandfather transfer him to a private Ranulph Fiennes. downhill ride on ice that drops 157 that season. His exploits caught the Still, nobody else passed much at 80 miles an hour on what looked the makings of a surprise were there. fighting Taylor, Serrano Richard John Wrottesley – prep school. “My father had a pop at the Bursar metres in three-quarters of a mile. attention of Toby Wallington, then heed of the playboy privateer who like an inverted tea tray in 51.07 It was just a question of whether I had signed a deal whose exploits in the infamous He continued his education that caught them and got thrown Clifton visited the resort and did performance director of the British competed on the US and European seconds, the third fastest time on could deliver.” with a US-Spanish World War II Battle of Arnhem were at Eton College and later at Edin- out, while Fiennes had his privileges Bobsleigh team. ICE MAN: Clifton Wrottesley celebrates his circuit for two seasons. the first run. Wrottesley delivered and finally TV station to feature documented in the book ‘A Bridge the run for the first time when he burgh University, where he studied withdrawn for 56 days.” was at university. “I realised pretty quickly that I sensational run at the 2002 Winter Olympics He took advantage of his anonym- “To be honest I don’t remember exorcised the ghost of his father. in a reality fitness programme. N 64 May 31, 2020 N N May 31, 2020 65 SPORTS WORLD THE FAMOUS HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH THAT TURNED OUT TO BE FORMER CHAMP’S LAST PRO FIGHT SPORTS WORLD

McBRIDE MIKE DROP: Kevin McBride He landed a right-hander HANGOVER FACTFILE... launches a big left hook at Mike AND JOY: TO COME: I Professional Kevin raises Debut: the Tyson during the sixth round of in the fifth and I thought Kevin McBride Mike Tyson I Birthplace: Clones, DecemberIrish tricolour17, 1992 his heavyweight victory over the Drew with Gary recovers in County Monaghan with his team legendary American in 2005 that leprechauns had I Date of Birth: May 10, Charlton in London his corner I Last Professional after being 1973 (age 47 years) I Fight: July 29, 2011 descended into the ring stopped in Height: 6’-6’’ I Reach: 80’’ KO defeat to Mariusz the seventh I Boxing career: Won Wach in Mohegan Sun KEVIN McBRIDE Irish Elite Super Casino, Connecticut heavyweight title in I Professional Record: The night 1992 46 Fights, 35 wins (29 I Qualified for 1992 KO’s) 10 defeats (7 KO’s) 1 Draw Barcelona Olympics LEAVING: Hayes at Super heavyweight I Occupation now: Tree (Beaten in Preliminary Surgeon Round by a Czech) I Residence: Brockton, Massachusetts, USA. Hayes LOW BLOW: Tyson lands a left to the groin departs I battered area of McBride Hoops BOB GIBSON JONNY HAYES has announced he is leaving Celtic after three seasons at Parkhead. The 32-year-old is coming to the end of his contract having made 67 appearances for the ‘Iron’ Mike club since arriving from Aberdeen. ON AN AMAZING NIGHT 15 YEARS AGO, IRELAND’S The Irishman wrote on his Instagram account: “From the lows of breaking a leg ‘CLONES COLOSSUS’ KEVIN McBRIDE GOT TO LIVE to the highs of winning a treble, the last three years have been an enjoyable journey, HIS OWN CINDERELLA STORY IN THE BOXING RING in which I’ve worked under some terrific staff and shared a dressing room with some unbelievable guys! McBride was in the shape of his life. hardly get up. He hadn’t had a drink for two months “Football at times “McBride’s corner was working on a brings tough decisions, Kevin started drinking again and together with Collins and Goody cut from a headbutt. I sat in my corner Petronelli, they had worked on a game so I’d like to thank and told my new trainer Jeff Fenech you for all the support and he won only two more plan. that it was over. I wasn’t going out for “Kevin was to keep Tyson at the end received along the way! the seventh round.” Stay safe everyone!” fights before hanging up of his jab and when he got close, lean For McBride, the personal highlight on him, which would force him to carry of the night had still to come. Reliable Tyson Kevin’s body weight.” For Muhammad Ali walked into his his gloves in 2011 On the eve of the fight McBride risked press conference. “I gave him a big The Republic of everything. “I told the promoters that hug and he threw a few punches at me Ireland international I wouldn’t fight unless they gave my and said ‘I am the greatest and you are proved a reliable cheque for $150,000 to the boxing com- the latest’.” servant, often deployed missioner. My attorney felt we couldn’t Date: June 11, 2005 DOWN AND OUT: ‘Iron’ There was no fairy-tale ending to the at left-back instead of trust them. They agreed, so I ended up story for the gentle giant from Clones. his preferred position Venue: MCI Center, Washington DC Mike Tyson sits dazed Event: Heavyweight Boxing Contest – BEWARE OF THE UNDERDOG: PART TWO getting paid the night before.” As was his wont, the hugely contro- further forward. on the canvas after versial Don King left Washington with Hayes’ Celtic Mike Tyson v Kevin McBride IN this series the Sunday World recalls some of the being knocked down by Hard a promotional deal for McBride in his team-mates, past Result: McBRIDE WINS AFTER celebrated moments in sport when the underdog prevailed Irish heavyweight Kevin Not long into the contest McBride pocket after promising the fighter he and present, sent him TYSON QUITS AT THE END OF THE against the odds. McBride in Washington DC discovered just how hard Tyson could would secure him a world title shot. their best wishes as SIXTH ROUND Today we look back at the famous heavyweight clash punch. “I had been knocked out before, Needless to say, it never materialised. they responded to his between ‘Iron Man’ Mike Tyson and the ‘Clones Colossus’ but I had never been hit so hard before. Kevin started drinking again and he message. A COUPLE of nights before Kevin McBride in Washington DC in 2005. “He hit me on the right side of the won only two more fights before hang- Skipper Scott Brown face and something moved on the left ing up his gloves in 2011. said: “Going to miss Kevin McBride fought Mike side. My head was sore for three weeks “I beat Mike Tyson in his last pro fight you my man. What a after the fight. and nobody can take that from me. I man and what a player. Tyson, Paschal Collins took “Hard going in the him to see ‘Cinderella Man’. “He might have lost some speed don’t care about the rest.” but he landed a right-hander Six years ago he finally dressing room to The award-winning movie in the fifth and I thought kicked the booze. “I just replace x.” told the story of Jim Brad- SEAN McGOLDRICK drank and I liked it. But Former Hoops left- that leprechauns had de- dock, an Irish-American heav- scended into the ring. a friend of mine Hank back Kieran Tierney So I grabbed hold of once said to me, ‘if you added: “What a guy yweight boxer who defied the to fight Tyson he was taking no chances. but we ended up sharing a room as I don’t take the first mate. Memories odds to beat Max Baer in a with Mike Tyson. It wasn’t about the him and said ‘is that money or not even about winning, “I was offered $150,000 to fight him. I was trying to keep Kevin in tow. It was all you’ve got?’. drink, you can’t get nobody can ever take world title fight in 1935. it was just getting to fight a man of didn’t argue or negotiate. We just went a tough eight weeks but what memories “Then he went drunk’. I’m sober away.” McBride could have been watch- his stature.” to Washington and signed the contract.” it left me,” said Collins. a little crazy and now for six years Mikael Lustig said: ing a version of his own life. Only once just before what Amer- McBride invited Collins, who had The Dubliner loved how self-confi- tried to break my and on top of the “Honestly the best “How could I ever forget it,” ican author George Plimpton called As the legendary Goody Petronelli to Boston. Paschal ran a successful helped him out before his previous dent all Americans are. It drove him arm and bite my world.” teammate you can remarks McBride when asked did the ‘the doomsday clang of the ring – then 83 – was wrapping McBride’s construction company in the city, fight, to assist in his preparations. to distraction when he heard all the nipple off.” He works as have! he remember much about the fight bell’ did McBride harbour doubts. hands, Gerry came into the dressing but was still boxing professionally. Rather euphemistically, McBride ac- Irish in Boston playing down McBride’s At the end a tree surgeon “Top player and against Tyson on the eve of its 15th “I remember thinking how the hell room. “He was wearing a top which The Tyson-McBride fight had a knowledges that he ‘used to like a chances. of the sixth, with a loyal decent stories. Was a anniversary. did I get myself into this.” had the number six written on it. It chequered history. Twelve months drink or two.’ “Kevin lacked self-belief as well.” McBride MOMENT friend Brendan pleasure to sit next to An ex-Boston cop Patrick Brady, who then OF TRUTH: Hoarty, while you during our years “I rated Muhammad Ali and Barry was a good omen.” previously, the McBride camp Trainer dropped Tyson McGuigan as great fighters but I Influential Meanwhile, across the hallway thought they had the fight in the bag. worked as a hypnotist, was drafted into the who was saved McBride’s his wife Danielle together. always dreamt about fighting Tyson. Paschal Collins thought all his Christ- But the contract wasn’t signed Collins became his minder/trainer/ McBride camp to work with him. by the bell. corner erupts works as a front- “All the best in the Less than half an hour later it was future my friend.” I remember telling my father about mases came at once. He was there to and at the 11th hour Tyson’s adviser psychologist. There were two condi- “It certainly helped and one of the Gassed out, he after beating line nurse in Bos- my dream and he just said to me, ‘if all over, with Tyson slumped in his observe Tyson’s hands being wrapped. Shelly Finkel attempted to slash things he told me was to smile every ton Medical. The Meanwhile corner, unable to answer the bell tions: total buy-in from McBride and barely made his Mike Tyson you work hard and believe one day So he got close up to the so-called ‘bad- McBride’s proposed $250,000 purse no payment. time Tyson hit me. That’s exactly what back to his corner. couple have two GLeicester City have it may happen’.” for the start of the seventh round. dest man of the planet’. in half. The McBride camp called I did – check it out on the fight video,” children, Grainne firmed up their interest There was an element of serendipi- “I told Kevin straight away he needed In his autobiography Kevin McBride Snr was diagnosed “Then the door opened and Mu- Finkel’s bluff only to discover that to lock himself away. We booked into said McBride. ‘Mike Tyson Undis- (15) and Caoimhin in Celtic’s Kristoffer with cancer in 1998 and passed away ty about the fight ending in the sixth hammad Ali walked in. I was ‘think- it wasn’t a bluff after all. Britain’s Tyson’s life outside the gym was (12) who is named after Ajer. round. McBride was introduced a hotel near the D.W. Field Park where puted Truth’ he de- later that year. His son slipped his ing this was unbelievable’.” Danny Williams got the fight and Rocky Marciano used to do his road careering out of control as his cocaine scribes his last moments Kevin’s grandfather and The Norwegian’s priceless Olympic participation med- to boxing in his native Clones by Collins’s older brother Steve had knocked out the former champion addiction become chronic. And he had father. new agents are in Gerry Rehill. work and we ran on the same roads as a pro fighter. al, which he received after boxing at persuaded the famous Petronel- in the fourth round. together,” run out of money. But he still had a “At the end of the sixth round A few years ago McBride met negotiations with City the 1992 Games, into the coffin just “He was very influential in my li brothers Pat and Goody – who “We thought then that Kevin fearsome reputation. Tyson at a Boxing Hall of Fame about a move. The early career. I remember, as part of “I remember those runs,” says McBride just leaned on me when we before it was closed. had guided the career of the leg- would never get his chance,” remem- McBride with a wince. “I never ran six “At the end of the day, the last thing were on the ropes and I went down on ceremony. “I walked up to him and Foxes are reportedly “It brought me good luck. It was TALL ORDER: Kevin McBride our training routine, I used to carry endary Marvin Hagler – to work bers Collins. a fighter loses is his power,” suggests said ‘Do you remember me? He replied set to offer €20 million him on my back up the steps of the miles before in my life.” my ass. I just sat there with my legs a dream come true to share a ring eyes up Mike Tyson in 2005 with McBride after he relocated When McBride got a second offer “We started out in separate rooms Collins. sprawled out. The ball rang but I could simply: ‘Yes, I remember you, Kevin.” (£18m), to sign the church in Clones.” 22-year-old from the Parkhead club.